Antenatal depression ‘threat to future mental health’

Over a third of women who become depressed during their pregnancy experience suicidal thoughts, new research has shown.

Furthermore, new mothers with antenatal depression were at a higher risk of worsening mental health problems than those who had postnatal depression, according to the study by the Royal College of Midwives and Netmums.

Women with antenatal depression need more help, a study has shown (Pic: PA)

Eighty per cent of women with depression during pregnancy also went on to experience postnatal depression.

While 56 per cent of people said they had problems during their first pregnancy, 66 per cent claimed to have had experienced issues with their second.

In addition, just over half of those surveyed said the condition had affected their relationship with the baby, and 38 per cent had difficulty bonding with the child.

Help for the condition was sought by 22 per cent of women who experienced it, and experts say they need more support than they’re currently been given.

Just 30 per cent of women were warned about antenatal depression by midwives. In addition, the majority of those surveyed said it took a while before they realised they had a problem.

The Department of Health has said that £25 million is to be allocated to improvement of maternity facilities for mothers and babies.

An NHS information service for parents will also be launched and is to include videos on how to spot signs of postnatal depression.